Looks Better Than It Should: 1983 Blakely Bernardi
You might think that combining the engine from a Pinto, suspension from a Beetle, and safety features from a pre-war British car would result in something that would be slow, handle miserably, and still kill you in the parking lot…but you’d be wrong. Because it is a homebuilt kit car and it’ll never run long enough to get to any speed that would be fatal. The worst thing that might happen is if it falls off a Harbor Freight jackstand and crushes you. Didn’t you read rule number 121 in the SAE Automotive Handbook “Don’t trust your life with anything from Harbor Freight” or rule 122 “Only drive a kit car if your life insurance payment is up-to-date”. Anyway…find this 1983 Blakely Bernardi offered for $10,000 in Copley, OH via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
From the seller:
1983 Blakely Bernardi Kit Car
condition: good
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 35576
paint color: red
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: convertible
1983 Blakley Bernardi Kit Car. Has both soft and hard tops. Comes with the original assembly manual. Good condition. Only approximately 60 of these were ever made. Qualifies for “Classic Car” license in Ohio. Pick-up in Copley.
See a better way to drive a classic kit? tips@dailyturismo.com
Love the addition of the graphic equalizer, in front of the passenger no less. “Honey, give it a little more treble, will you?”
The stock Pinto air cleaner hints of the tremendous performance potential!
Underneath that unassuming Pinto air cleaner lies the heart of a Weber carburetor.
Looks like Blakely had originally set out to do one of those Mercedes imitations, then decided to go for a watered-down Cord 810 instead at the last minute.